DAVID "FATHEAD" NEWMAN

Diamondhead

2008-03-30

Seventy-five-year-old David "Fathead" Newman's latest release, titled "Diamondhead," invokes one word and one word only … Ahhhh. Now, call me a purist, but this is the jazz that defines the genre. Newman has been at it for nearly 60 years now, playing with the Ray Charles band for 12 years and later with Herbie Mann for another ten. The title track, "Diamonhead" is rife with references, seemingly taking a note from the Eddie Harris's "Compared to What," though it takes a brief moment halfway through to pay tribute to George Gerswhin's "American in Paris." His cover of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" gets a nice make-over with Newman grabbing for the flute. All in all, a great album. I listened to it over and over again and found new little gems each time. If you like the classics, like Coltrane or Miles Davis, this would do well on your shelf. A definite must and nice to have yet another contribution from a jazz legend. -- Daniel Graeber

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Jazz

  • reviewed 11/2006

    JAVON JACKSON
    Now

  • reviewed 08/2012

    SHUFFLE DEMONS
    ClusterFunk

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Tin Hat
    The Sad Machinery of Spring

  • reviewed 01/2006

    BURT BACHARACH
    At ThisTime

  • reviewed 04/2014

    OU
    Pisces Crisis

  • reviewed 06/2017

    Matt White The Super Villain Jazz Band
    Worlds Wide

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.